hours after the tragedy which occurred in his home state, senator harry reid use the hawthorne training accident to talk about sequestration on military readiness. >> it's just not appropriate, mr. president, that our military can't train and do the maintenance necessary. the men and women, our marines were trained in hawthorne. the sequester will cut it back. i just hope everyone understands. sacrifices made by the military. they are significant. >> marine official responded, "i don't know how anyone could link this accident to budget cuts. budget cuts would never cause marines to operate in unsafe conditions." reid communication director added the clarification, "the idea that senator reid thinks the hawthorne tragedy has anything to do with the sequester is absurd and unsubstantiateed by the remarks on the topic." the cause of the explosion is still under investigation. but the marine officials confirm that a 670-mim meter mortar round exploded prematurely inside the tube in a live fire exercise at awe thorn imminution depot -- ammunition depot. seven were killed, five immediately. t